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Tourism

Morocco's flagship carrier expands Brazil operations amid strong demand

Friday 21 February 2025 - 09:20

Royal Air Maroc is set to significantly expand its Brazilian operations, planning to double its weekly São Paulo-Casablanca flights and launch new services to Rio de Janeiro by early 2026. The airline's Brazil Director-General Othman Baba announced these plans during a visit to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).

The carrier's current thrice-weekly flights have maintained impressive occupancy rates of 85-88% since operations resumed in December 2024. This strong performance has encouraged the airline to consider increasing frequencies to match its pre-pandemic schedule of up to six weekly flights.

The São Paulo-Casablanca route primarily serves as a strategic connection hub, with 90% of Brazilian travelers using it to access European destinations, while 10% continue to African destinations, including Morocco. The airline provides connectivity to over 35 African countries, positioning itself as a crucial link between Africa and global destinations.

Brazilian travelers have shown growing interest in Moroccan destinations, particularly Marrakech, Agadir, and historic cities like Rabat, Fez, and Essaouira. To capitalize on this interest, Royal Air Maroc established its São Paulo office in November 2024, following the Moroccan National Tourism Office's presence in the city.

The airline currently operates flights from Casablanca on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing at 4:45 p.m. and arriving in São Paulo at 10:20 p.m. Return flights depart São Paulo at 12:25 a.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, landing in Casablanca at 1:15 p.m.

During the ABCC meeting, discussions focused on potential partnerships, Muslim-friendly tourism initiatives, trade missions, and collaboration through the ABCC's WAHI women's committee. The airline's management expressed commitment to strengthening Morocco's position as a preferred destination for Brazilian travelers through cooperation with the tourism board.

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